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NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and consumer complaints for the 1988 Ford Thunderbird.
| Trim | City | Hwy | Combined | Annual fuel $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4 cyl Automatic 4-spd | 15 | 21 | 17 | $3,500 |
| 3.8L 6 cyl Automatic 4-spd | 18 | 25 | 21 | $2,850 |
| 5.0L 8 cyl Automatic 4-spd | 16 | 24 | 19 | $3,150 |
| 2.3L 4 cyl Manual 5-spd | 16 | 24 | 19 | $3,150 |
NHTSA has not published 5-star crash-test ratings for the 1988 Ford Thunderbird. New vehicles are often added to the NCAP rating program after initial release; check nhtsa.gov/ratings for the latest status.
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
Component: POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
A DESIGN CHANGE TO FACILITATE CHANGEOVER IN REAR AXLE SHAFT FLANGES INADVERTENTLY PRODUCED THE POSSIBILITY FOR INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE FLANGE AND DISC BRAKE ROTOR.
Consequence: THE INTERFERENCE COULD PREVENT PROPER SEATING OF THEROTOR. ALSO AN IMPROPERLY SEATED ROTOR COULD IN TIME RESULT IN A REDUCTION INTHE CLAMPING FORCES OF THE WHEEL STUDS, POSSIBLY LEADING TO FRACTURED STUDSAND REAR WHEEL SEPARATION.
Remedy: INSPECTION OF VEHICLES AND WHERE NECESSARY REPLACE REAR AXLE SHAFTS AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 FORD THUNDERBIRD EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR ASSURANCE FUEL MAX TIRES, SIZE: P225/60R16. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TIRES MADE AN ABNORMAL RUMBLING NOISE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND BOTH PASSENGER SIDE TIRES WERE GETTING FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE VALVE STEMS WERE THE REASON FOR THE TIRE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 290,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. *TR
DT: THIS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. CONTACTED FORD, AND THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. IT CAUGHT FIRE ON OCTOBER 1, 2000. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. HAD MECHANIC LOOK AT VEHICLE TO REPAIR IT, AND THEY SAID IT WAS TO FAR GONE.*AK
WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING. THIS WAS DUE TO THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE IGNITION RECALL 96V071000. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
The 1988 Ford Thunderbird has 2 NHTSA recalls and 101 consumer complaints on file. The high number of complaints suggests potential reliability concerns — review the complaint details above before purchasing. For the most detailed information about a specific vehicle, decode its VIN using our free decoder above.
Enter a specific VIN to get the full report — specs, recalls, safety ratings, complaints, investigations, and technical service bulletins.
NO REPAIRS YET...HAHA..JUST WEAK BRAKES,BAD PAINT AND WIERD SPEED CONTROL...LOOK TO THE CRUISE CONTROL..TO MUCH ELECTRIONICS IN THIS CAR MAN!
THE VEHICLE LURCHED FOWARD, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. *JB
IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED IN 1999. CAR WAS RETURNED TO TED BRITT FORD FOR COMPLIANCE.INVOICE STATES PN F29Z-11572D INSTALLED.IGNITION SWITCH FAILED 8/17/02 ENGINE RUNNING FINE BUT ABS INOP-LOSS OF BRAKE POWER BOOST NOT JUST ANTI LOCK.DEFECTIVE SWITCH FOUND TO BE PN F29A11572DA NOT F29Z11572D AS STATED ON RECALL INVOICE.PER JERRY'S FORD PARTS DEPT THESE PART NUMBERS INTERCHANGE.THE REMOVED PART SHOWED SIGNS OF MELTING AND CHARRING.*AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED.CONTACTED DEALER. REASON UNKNOWN.*AK
CAR OFF. FIRE UNDER HOOD DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT-PER FIRE DEPT.
WITH THE MIRROR GLUED TO THE WINDSHIELD, AN OBJECT HIT THE ROOFLINE OF THE CAR, CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO SHATTER, AND AT 65MPH, THE WINDSHIELD COLAPSED WITH THE MIRROR ATTACHED, HITTING ME IN THE THE FACE, AND THE MIRROR EDGE HIT ME IN THE RT SIDE OF MY HEAD, BREAKING MY SKULL, CAUSING BONE FRGMENTS IN MY BRAIN, AND DAMAGE . UN RELATED INSIDENT IN MY 92 CARAVAN, A BIG BIRD HIT MY PASSENGERSIDE WINDSHIELD, AND THE REARVIEW MIRROR LAUNCHED TO THE BACK. BOTH COULD BE PREVENTED WITH A TEATHERING STRAP TO THE ROOF, KEEPING MIRROR IN THE GENERAL MOUNTED AREA, AS NOW ALL MINE ARE SO ATTACHED. I ALSO KNOW OF ANOTHER WHERE THE MIRROR FLEW OFF IN A REAR END COLLISION, HITTING THE DRIVER'S HEAD. THE MIRRORS ALWAYS FALL OFF IN THIS TEXAS HEAT, IN A STATIC POSITION.
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED. I ALSO OWNED A 1987 T-BIRD PRIOR TO THIS ONE THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE OLDER T-BIRDS.*AK
IGNITION SWITCH IS CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL OUT IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS.*AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT AND THERE WAS A BURN/ ELECTRICAL SMELL, BUT NO SMOKE. CONSUMER TURNED TO START VEHICLE BACK UP, AND NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. A MECHANIC FOUND THAT IGNITION SWITCH BURNED OUT FROM OVERHEATING. RECALL 96V071000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 95S28 WAS SERVICED IN JANUARY 1997. *AK
THE FEMALE PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS BROKEN.
PLASTIC COVERING ON HEADLIGHTS HAVE FADED TO YELLOW MAKING VISIBILITY DIFFICULT. OWNER HAS TO BUY WHOLE LIGHTING UNIT TO FIX PROBLEM.*AK THE CONSUMER SAYS IT IS NOT REASONABLE TO BUY THE ENTIRE UNIT TO REPLACE AN INFERIOR QUALITY COVERING FOR THE HEAD LIGHT. *YH
ALTERNATOR OVERHEATED, AND HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE WITHIN IGNITION SWITCH. *AK TWO DEALERS HAD DIFFERING OPENION ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES SOMETHING WITHIN THE VEHICLE'S DESIGN EXCITES THE ELECTRICAL CHANGING SYSTEM. *YH
Showing 15 of 101 complaints